New Haven Independent

U.S. Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro met with Kevin Burns of Precision Combustion Monday to discuss the “Energy Independence Day Initiative” and what the company is doing to help solve the energy crisis.

“This company is a clean energy innovator,” said DeLauro. “The technology is here to move toward independence.”

DeLauro’s visit coincided with an initiative Democrats are taking in Washington to “achieve energy independence, strengthen national security, grow the economy, create new jobs, lower energy prices and begin to address global warming.”

Precision Combustion develops catalytic devices to “enable cleaner and more efficient use of fossil fuels for a variety of applications.” The products they design are intended to make the air cleaner by reducing emissions and eliminating atmospheric pollutants.

The company strives to be useful and flexible. Burns said they build their reactors to burn mainstream fuels as well as alternative fuels, like bio-diesel.

DeLauro (pictured with Burns on her right and other Precision Combustion employees and supporters) said the work the company is doing shows that the technologies “are not 15 or 20 years away.”

“It’s here,” she said. “How invested are we?”

Connecticut has always been on the cutting edge of manufacturing, DeLauro said, and she sees supporting companies like Precision Conmbustion as a way to develop more jobs in the state.

“So much technology is being off-shored,” she said. “Through this technology we can develop, be cutting edge and revitalize our own economy. High paying jobs for the future.”

“There are a lot of smart people in the world,” said Burns. “But it’s incumbent on us to move forward.”

Most of the technologies being developed in North Haven are for military uses though Burns says they will “spin off into commercial applications” in the future.

“We want to get the technology to the family application,” said DeLauro. “That commercialization is critical.”

Precision Combustion has recevied federal grants through the Small Business Innovation initiative.

“The state and federal government have to be active participants,” said DeLauro. “We are in an environment nationally where we can look affirmatively at opportunities.”

“We need to provide companies with wherewithal and resources,” she said.